European Business Awards

European Business Awards
Awarded for	Recognising excellence, innovation & best practice in Europe
Location	Europe
Presented by	European Business Awards
First awarded	2007
Official website	European Business Awards

The European Business Awards is a European awards programme started in 2006. The European Business Awards is an independent Awards programme designed to recognise and promote excellence, best practice and innovation in the European business community. Judged in line with the broad aims of the European Union and business representative groups across the member states, the Awards celebrates its eighth anniversary in 2014.

History

Since its launch in 2006 the European Business Awards has established itself as the ultimate platform for outstanding businesses in the EU. Designed to celebrate exceptional results across a variety of categories, the EBAs are a global showcase for the best in the business.

Every year the European Business Awards is judged by a prestigious panel of experts and involves some of Europe’s key political figures. Past participants have included Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium, Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania; Arnold Rüütel, former President of Estonia; and Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria; business leaders including Isidoro Unda, CEO of Atradius, Peter Brabeck-Lethmathe, former CEO of Nestle, and Gilbert Ghostine, Managing director of Diageo Continental Europe; top academics and media representatives from Europe’s most influential media owners.

There are no borders in business, and the Awards celebrate successes of the entire European business community, as well as the achievements of individual countries. Every year, thousands of entries from businesses far and wide are received. Due to the quality of the entrants and the rigor of the judging process, only the crème de la crème are selected to represent their country. Finalists receive a Ruban d’Honneur and overall winners earn themselves a prestigious European Business Award, the ultimate honour in European business.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards says, “The European Business Awards provide dynamic and forward thinking businesses a platform to showcase their achievements and share their success with other like-minded companies. Now, more than ever we need to consider how the European economy trades globally and we need brave enterprising European businesses who invest in innovation and excellence to lead the way. This is an opportunity for Europe’s brightest businesses to gain the recognition they deserve on a global stage.”

Structure

The Judging Process

The process for selection has been improved to offer an even more accurate picture of the very best in European business. After entering, participants are reviewed against selection criteria determined by the judging panel and appropriate businesses will be selected as National Finalists. National Finalists will be invited to submit a video presentation for viewing and assessment by judges resulting in successful organisations being awarded National Champion status.

Entry forms and video presentations of all National Champions are reassessed by the prestigious and demanding European Business Awards judging panel and the top 110 organisations are given Ruban d’Honneur status.

After rigorous face to face assessed in front of a judging panel, Ruban d’Honneur recipients are honoured and the names of the Award winners revealed as Europe’s top businesses at a glittering Awards ceremony.

All Ruban d’Honneur recipients will be invited to attend the Awards presentation ceremony where they will be honoured and the overall Award winners revealed in front of Europe’s top business leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, business commentators, and media.

Separately the videos of all National Champions are made public for a vote: a 'National Public Champion' is named in each country and after a second vote a 'European Public Champion' is announced at the Awards ceremony. In 2013/4 over 90,000 votes were cast by the public to decide the winners.

Judging Panels

Judges are invited to participate in the European Business Awards based on their experience, business acumen and expertise. Each panel includes different nationalities and the judges are naturally well-versed in the cultural aspects of each of the finalist’s countries. The judges are fully independent and receive no personal or financial benefit from their participation, other than first-hand experience of finalists’ success stories, and the opportunity to influence, encourage and promote the highest standards of business.

The European Business Awards Winners

2013/4

• The Award for Customer Focus - World First (United Kingdom)
• The BP Target Neutral Growth Strategy of the Year Award - NNG (Hungary)
• The Chairman’s Selection Award - Diamantis Masoutis (Greece)
• The Employer of the Year Award - Jaba Recordati S.A. (Portugal)
• The European Public Champion - Skroutz (Greece)
• The Import/Export Award - Cosentino Group (Spain)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €0-25m] - ARVENTO MOBILE SYSTEMS (Turkey)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €150m+] - B2X Care Solutions (Germany)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €26-150m] - Galenicum Health S.L. (Spain)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award - Magna Marine (Greece)
• The Millicom Award for Environmental & Corporate Sustainability - RTR Rete Rinnovabile (Italy)
• The RSM Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Airspeed Telecom (Ireland)
• The UKTI Award for Innovation - Olea Medical (France)

2012/3

• The UKTI Award for Innovation - Hidria (Slovenia)
• The International Growth Strategy of the Year Award - Leo Pharma A/S (Denmark)
• The Millicom Award for Environmental & Corporate Sustainability - Coillte (Ireland)
• The Award for Customer Focus - Turk Ekonomi Bankasi (Turkey)
• The Employer of the Year Award - Hygeia Hospital (Greece)
• The RSM Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Julie Deane, The Cambridge Satchel Company (United Kingdom)
• The Import/Export Award - GAEA Products SA (Greece)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €0-25m] - Contronics Engineering BV (The Netherlands)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €26-150m] - Criteo (France)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award [t/o €150m+] - Grupo Portucel Soporcel (Portugal)

2011

• The Award for Environmental and Corporate Sustainability – Mercator Group (Slovenia)^[1]
• The Employer of the Year Award – Global Bilgi A.Ş. (Turkey)
• The HSBC Growth Strategy of the Year Award – Software AG (Germany)
• The RSM International Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Maesa Group (Julien Saada & Gregory Mager) (France)^[2]
• The Award for Customer Focus – TAXIS G7 (France)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award with Turnover of €0-25m – Companeo (France)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award with Turnover of €26-150m – bigpoint (Germany)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award with Turnover €150m or higher – H&M (Sweden)
• The UKTI Award for Innovation – SENER (Spain)
• The HSBC Import/Export Award - Sheffield Forgemasters International (UK)
• Chairman’s Selection – Byurakn LLC (Armenia)

2010

• The Award for Corporate Sustainability – Fairtrade Foundation (UK)^[3]
• The Employer of the Year Award –&Samhoud (Netherlands)
• The HSBC Growth Strategy of the Year Award – Infinis (UK)^[4]
• The RSM International Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Taxback.com (Ireland)^[5][6]
• The Award for Customer Focus – Etiketten Carini (Austria)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award – Milicom International Cellular SA(Luxembourg)
• The Environmental Awareness Award – A.P Moller Maersk Group (Denmark)
• The UKTI Award for Innovation – Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovscina (Slovenia)
• The Infosys Business of the Year Award (below 60M Euro) – Softonic.com (Spain)
• Chairman’s Selection – Wissol Group (Georgia)

2009

• The Business Innovation of the Year Award – Tennant Company
• The Atradius Growth Strategy of the Year Award – Webmart Ltd
• The Award for Customer Focus – Air Berlin
• The RSM International Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Duncan Goose, Global Ethics Ltd
• The Award for Corporate Sustainability – Acciona S.A.
• The Infosys ICT Effectiveness Award - FreeFlow
• The Employer of the Year Award – FedEx Express
• The Environmental Awareness Award – Manchester Rusk Company Ltd
• The bigmouthmedia Marketing Strategy of the Year Award –DVLA^[7]
• The Business of the Year Award – Q-Cells SE

2008

• The RSM International Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Steve Leach, Group CEO of Bigmouthmedia
• The Award for Corporate Sustainability - Procter & Gamble
• The Société Générale Award for Customer Focus - Isuzu Truck (UK) Limited
• The Business Innovation of the Year Award - Intamac Systems Ltd
• The CMS Business of the Year Award - Econcern
• The Atradius Growth Strategy of the Year Award - Petrotechnics Limited
• The Business Leader of the Year Award - Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO of Nokia

2007

• The CMS Business of the Year Award - ARM Holdings plc
• The AXA Award for Corporate Sustainability - HP Corporation EMEA
• The Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Hans-Martin Rueter of Conergy AG
• The Grey EMEA Growth Strategy of the Year Award - Innocent Drinks
• The Siemens Business Innovation of the Year Award - CoreMedia AG
• The Société Générale Award for Customer Focus - TNT Express

T* he Business Leader of the Year Award - Jean-Paul Votron, CEO Fortis

External links

• European Business Awards website

References

1. ↑ 7 http://www.4-traders.com/MERCATOR-D-D-6496207/news/MERCATOR-D-D-Mercator-wins-European-Business-Award-for-Environmental-and-Corporate-Responsibility-13904880/, 4-Traders.com, 22 November 2011
2. ↑ 8 http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/23/european-businesses-down-but-not-out/, CNN Business Blog, 23 November 2011
3. ↑ 2 http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/november/fairtrade_foundation_wins_hsbc_european_business_award_2010_for_corporate_sustainability.aspx, 17 November 2010
4. ↑ 3 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1354046/THE-INTERVIEW-Eric-Machiels-Belgian-s-making-millions-rubbish.html, Daily Mail, 5 February 2011
5. ↑ 4 http://www.businessandleadership.com/business/item/26732-taxback-com-scoops-internat, Business & Leadership, 17 November 2010
6. ↑ 5 http://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/The-winners-announced-in-the-European-Business-Awards.1096, Business Matters Magazine, 19 November 2010
7. ↑ 6 http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/european-business-awards-2009-celebrates-european-businesses-success-95806.php, 10 April 2009